Delray City Hall Expecting Crowds From Meeting, Election

DELRAY BEACH -- In the words of City Manager James Pennington, it is going to be ``total mass confusion`` at City Hall tonight.

In one room, the City Commission will meet at 7 p.m. with two controversial, crowd-attracting items on the agenda.

In another room, the Supervisor of Elections will be tabulating municipal election ballots from four south Palm Beach County cities.

In the lobby will be many of the candidates and their supporters awaiting the election results, poll workers delivering ballot boxes, members of the media covering the events, residents attending the commission meeting, and police officers controlling the crowd.

``We didn`t plan on this,`` Mayor Doak Campbell said. ``I didn`t know we were going to count ballots here until about a week or so ago.``

The mayor on Monday also added the hot Marina Delray issue to the agenda. The issue attracted about 75 resident last time it was on the agenda.

Campbell said he had promised some beach area residents he would discuss once again whether the hotel should be turned into a private club. The commission rejected such a request last month.

Also among the items to be discussed is the rezoning for the controversial Lehman Auto Mall planned for South Federal Highway. Hundreds of residents have mailed post cards to the mayor and commission opposing the mall. And at least 100 residents showed up when the commission discussed it previously.

``Our group will turn out,`` said Tropic Isle resident Charlie Smith. ``You can be sure of that. And in large numbers.``

Parking will be a premium between 6 and 7 p.m. as people gather for the events at City Hall at voters go to the polling place at the Community Center next door.

``We`re going to step up the number of officers for added security in the building,`` Pennington said. ``And we`ll probably need some traffic control outside the building.``

Delray Beach traditionally holds a commission meeting on Election Day and Pennington said the city didn`t consider canceling this time.

Supervisor of Elections Jackie Winchester will tabulate election results for the first time in Delray Beach City Hall. Winchester said she doesn`t expect any problems with the large crowd.

``We have large crowds up here (in West Palm Beach) on election night,`` Winchester said. ``And many of them have been drinking and celebrating. And it has never caused a problem.``